• Tweet

• Tweet

Renewal on the Rocks

Discover the magic as we gather with families and friends on an Island ten miles out to relax, reflect and renew. At All Star II, young and old will awake to the sounds of the ocean and gulls, marvel at the diversity of flora and fellow shoalers, and close each day with an inspirational candlelight service in Starís historic stone chapel. Hours in between are filled with the morning lecture series, sports, art, music, rowing, yoga, theatre, workshops, and reading, or simply relaxing in a porch rocker at the Oceanic Hotel, communing with one’s self, one’s family, and old and new friends. Morning and afternoon children’s programs led by our wonderful and expert staff offer creative fun for the kids. Gather with us in 2010 for laughter, friendship and spiritual renewal.

The Times They Are a Changin’: Are They Really?

How hard is it to make political change in America? A look at what has happened to our politics, our campaigns, the issues that really matter. From 24-hour news channels, to the rise of social media, to the decline of traditional press coverage, how do we make sense of it all? Our guest speaker, Peter Fenn, is President of Fenn Communications Group in Washington DC, a political consulting firm that has worked in over 300 campaigns, from mayor to President. Peter and his firm have also served as media advisors to Fortune 500 companies, advocacy groups, and non profits, as well as internationally. Peter teaches at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management and is a frequent guest on cable news and the major networks. He can be seen regularly on Saturday mornings on MSNBC opposite Pat Buchanan.

Minister of the Week

The Reverend Erica Baron, Minister of the UU Church of Rutland and UU Fellowship of Bennington, will be joining us as a New Shoaler and our Minister of the Week. Erica began her journey as a Unitarian Universalist in the First UU Society of Burlington, Vermont, at age 1. Since then, sheís been active in large, small, and mid-size Unitarian Universalist congregations, and even experienced Unitarianism in Ireland for a year. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School. She currently serves as the minister of the Unitarian Universalist congregations of Rutland and Bennington, Vermont. She also served on the staff of Northeast Leadership School for 3 years, and currently serves on the Commission on Appraisal.

Chairs

Joni and Brian Lipton, (301)-424-7081, email hidden; JavaScript is required.  Joni and Brian are longtime Shoalers who live in Maryland.  They have two grown children, Jared and Amy, and are a two generational Pel family.

Registration Information

Registration Fee: $100 for adults (18+) and $85 for children, up to $370 per family. $10 of the registration fee will be donated to the Ginny Levine Shoalership Fund. Additional donations to this fund are welcome.

Each adult child out of high school must register separately.

Registrar: Ron Cordes, email hidden; JavaScript is required, (781) 275-6181, 3 Jeffrey Circle, Bedford, MA 01730

Download Registration Form

Financial Aid

Financial assistance is available to individuals with need through the Ginny Levine Shoalership Fund. Information and application are available at http://allstar2.gurus.org/index.php/The_Ginny_Levine_Shoalership_Fund, or call MaryEllen Mellen (860)537-1814. All inquiries and awards are kept confidential.

Children’s Program

All Star II offers a wonderful children’s program, led by an experienced, caring staff. While parents attend morning lectures, afternoon Talks on the Rocks, or enjoy leisure time, children ages 0-18 meet in groups, by age, each morning and afternoon. In addition to building a sense of Star community and friendship, the children’s program includes sports, games, rowing to Smuttynose, art, music, ghost stories, stunt night, marine life exploration, and (for the Senior Teens) planning and participating in their own chapel service. A highlight of the week, the Great People Hunt, is an island wide game of hide and seek in which all children participate, and some win bounties!

Conference Activities

All Star II offers a variety of activities for everyone… young and old, introvert and extrovert. Enjoy them all, join in the ones that sound interesting to you, or rejuvenate your soul with a week of porch sitting. Renew old friendships and create new ones as you experience life as a Shoaler. A typical day might include:

• You Did Come Back!
• Polar Bear Dip in the ocean
• Morning coffee on the Porch
• Yoga and Morning Stretches
• Early morning golf
• Chanticleers – waking the Island with songs and music
• Morning Chapel
• Children’s Program; morning and afternoon
• Themed Speaker Lecture Series
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Softball
• Bocce – lawn and salt and pepper
• Tournaments (ping pong, bridge, tennis, bocce… you name it, we play it)
• Knitting Knots
• Musical Activities – both formal and informal
• Scavenger Hunt
• Art Programs
• Swimming
• Rowing
• Painting/Drawing
• Marine Lab excursions
• Talks on the Rocks
• Genealogy workshops
• Writing workshops
• Porch Sitting
• Trips to Appledore and Smuttynose Islands
• Field Day
• Clam and Mussel feast
• Social Hour
• Quadrathalon
• Marshmallow Roast
• Pelican Auction
• Pel Show
• The Great People Hunt
• Art Auction
• Expert’s Night
• Stunt Night
• Dictionary
• Evening Candlelight Service
• Banquet Night on Friday
• Musicale
• The Grand March
• Friday night Farewell Parties
• We Will Come Back!